Random range observation

[AEGinMD]

This is an observation, rather than a complaint, but I'm interested to know how common it is. Today, a hot day in April (high 80s during this outing), I drove in city traffic (stop and go in Engage mode, with only the radio & fan on; windows open & no a/c) for a total of about 17 miles. Three stops. Left the house with 101 miles of range. Drove approximately 2 miles and parked in the bright sun for 10 minutes. Returned to the car for the next errand and noticed my range was 99 miles when I started -- so far so good! Drove approximately 5 miles; parked in the hot sun for an hour. Returned & started up -- the range was 88 miles. Drove 7 miles with frequent braking. Stopped for 15 minutes. Returned to the car for the 3 mile drive home -- range was 87 miles. By the time I got home (more frequent braking) the range was 91. If I just focus on the range at beginning and end, I just might have found a new way of conserving energy -- if only I could copyright & sell my technique! I charge at home and on long trips the range is pretty reliable, so none of this bothers me - for the most part I'm simply amused. I truly love this car, quirks and all.

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[orangethunder]

Mine occasionally is similarly creative in its range estimate.

But I also discovered one drive I take somewhat infrequently that I assumed is mostly flat is actually a very long and steady incline/decline. I only noticed this as during the decline leg of the trip I was getting very high miles/kWh. And the only reason I was paying attention to that was I put new tires on and was verifying their range impact.

Long story short, check out if any hills in that drive.

 

[thekat03]

My bet is it thought it would use more energy to cool the car down, when it showed that bigger drop.

 

[KeyWestEViking]

My bet is it thought it would use more energy to cool the car down, when it showed that bigger drop.

My thought as well, basically the GOM 'playing it safe' as the battery was getting toasty. But with the frequent braking and regen, it thought about it again and adjusted

 

[AEGinMD]

Mine occasionally is similarly creative in its range estimate.

But I also discovered one drive I take somewhat infrequently that I assumed is mostly flat is actually a very long and steady incline/decline. I only noticed this as during the decline leg of the trip I was getting very high miles/kWh. And the only reason I was paying attention to that was I put new tires on and was verifying their range impact.

Long story short, check out if any hills in that drive.

Thanks. No 'meaningful' hills in yesterday's trek. But I'm drawn to the 'car is cooling itself' theory of the later posts. Interesting!

 

[Mrn]

My observation is that the GOM looks at the per mile energy use the last time I drove to predict what the energy use will be on the upcoming drive. If I used AC on the previous drive, it will show the predicted range while using AC. On the other hand if I didn't use AC on the previous drive, it will predict a longer range.

In general It apparently uses the KWH/mile for my last drive to predict the remaining miles in the 'tank' .

 

[Jerrytball]

First time seeing the best mileage since I’ve had the car. Instead of hitting the highways today I stayed on the 25 to 40 mile an hour town roads. I noticed it staying at 3.5 kWh. I literally drove 20 miles and the battery percentage dropped one percent but the GOM basically stayed the same, so I drove 20 miles with it staying at 135 miles remaining at 53%, then it finally dropped down to 52% and 134 miles. Now tired of driving sides Street of course hit the highway 70 miles an hour went down to 49%, and about 125 miles remaining after driving 7 miles on the highway to the house. So you just drove around town and stayed off the highways you could drive that thing probably for probably 5 days without having to charge, maybe more.

 

[Triggerhappy007]

First time seeing the best mileage since I’ve had the car. Instead of hitting the highways today I stayed on the 25 to 40 mile an hour town roads. I noticed it staying at 3.5 kWh. I literally drove 20 miles and the battery percentage dropped one percent but the GOM basically stayed the same, so I drove 20 miles with it staying at 135 miles remaining at 53%, then it finally dropped down to 52% and 134 miles. Now tired of driving sides Street of course hit the highway 70 miles an hour went down to 49%, and about 125 miles remaining after driving 7 miles on the highway to the house. So you just drove around town and stayed off the highways you could drive that thing probably for probably 5 days without having to charge, maybe more.

Actually highways are very good for efficiency but your average speed has to be low (<55 mph). If I'm averaging 45-50mph in traffic, my efficiency is around 4.0-4.5. Driving around town is less efficient since you have to stop and accelerate, but your speed is much lower and much less drag compared to highway speeds. Straight city vs highway, city wins for efficiency.

 

[Mach1E]

Makes me sad that the most active thread in the performance/track/racing section is about efficiency. ?

 

[ChasingCoral]

This is an observation, rather than a complaint, but I'm interested to know how common it is. Today, a hot day in April (high 80s during this outing), I drove in city traffic (stop and go in Engage mode, with only the radio & fan on; windows open & no a/c) for a total of about 17 miles. Three stops. Left the house with 101 miles of range. Drove approximately 2 miles and parked in the bright sun for 10 minutes. Returned to the car for the next errand and noticed my range was 99 miles when I started -- so far so good! Drove approximately 5 miles; parked in the hot sun for an hour. Returned & started up -- the range was 88 miles. Drove 7 miles with frequent braking. Stopped for 15 minutes. Returned to the car for the 3 mile drive home -- range was 87 miles. By the time I got home (more frequent braking) the range was 91. If I just focus on the range at beginning and end, I just might have found a new way of conserving energy -- if only I could copyright & sell my technique! I charge at home and on long trips the range is pretty reliable, so none of this bothers me - for the most part I'm simply amused. I truly love this car, quirks and all.

That's why the range estimate is known as a Guess-o-Meter!

What you are seeing is the estimate of how far you might be able to go on an unknown road at an unknown speed based on your most recent driving. Bouncing around after short drives is normal.

You might want to read this:
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...ulate-how-far-your-mach-e-can-really-go.6104/

 

[AEGinMD]

Thanks. Interesting thread. I'm glad it's conservative & I have no real interest in testing the limits. Some day I'll calculate actual v. predicted range, but in general I'd rather just be driving!

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